▲ Kim Hyun-tae, former commander of the Army's 707th Special Mission Group under the Special Warfare Command, answers questions from reporters before attending his first-trial sentencing hearing regarding charges of playing an important role in an insurrection, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 27th.
Former military commanders indicted for charges including participating in the blocking of the National Assembly during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law decree have been sentenced to prison terms.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Settlement Division 37-2 (Presiding Judges Oh Chang-seob, Ryu Chang-seong, and Jang Sung-hoon) sentenced Kim Hyun-tae, former commander of the Army Special Warfare Command's 707th Special Mission Group (colonel), who was put on trial on charges including playing an important role in an insurrection, to 12 years in prison on the 27th.
Lee Sang-hyun, former commander of the Special Warfare Command's 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade (brigadier general), who was charged with leading troops to blockade the National Assembly during the martial law along with former Commander Kim, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Kim Dae-woo, former head of the Counterintelligence Investigation Unit of the Defense Security Command (brigadier general), who was involved in operating a politician arrest squad, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Additionally, Kim Bong-gyu, former head of the Central News Unit (colonel), and Jung Sung-wook, former commander of the 2nd Business Group of the 100th Brigade (colonel), who participated in the occupation of the National Election Commission and the plan to arrest its employees, were each sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Former 707th Commander Kim, former Brigade Commander Lee, and former Unit Head Kim Dae-woo were immediately taken into custody in the courtroom on that day due to concerns of flight and destruction of evidence.
However, Park Heon-soo, former head of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters (major general), and Go Dong-hee, former head of the Planning Office of the Defense Intelligence Agency (colonel), who were indicted alongside them, were acquitted on the grounds that the intent to commit insurrection could not be recognized.
Regarding former Commander Kim Hyun-tae, the court stated, "It is recognized that the defendant, acting upon instructions from Kwak Jong-geun (former Special Warfare Commander), entered the National Assembly with his troops, blockaded the main hall, and controlled access," adding, "Circumstances attempting to deter or pull out lawmakers seeking to vote on the martial law lifting demand resolution at the time can also be recognized."
While former Commander Kim denied the charges, claiming he merely carried out lawful orders, the court pointed out, "The orders received by the defendant were manifestly illegal, and the defendant was also aware of this."
Regarding former Brigade Commander Lee Sang-hyun, the court noted, "He sortied to the National Assembly with the troops under his command and gave instructions to 'blockade the National Assembly and drive out people inside, including lawmakers,'" and pointed out, "This was ultimately to obstruct the vote on lifting martial law, which is self-evidently an unconstitutional mission."
As for former Unit Head Kim Dae-woo, the court stated, "The defendant's order to form a National Assembly member arrest squad or dispatch investigators to the National Assembly to arrest lawmakers constitutes a riot carried out as part of insurrectionary acts."
In the case of former Commanders Kim Bong-gyu and Jung Sung-wook, the court viewed that "the defendants appear to have been aware that if troops were deployed to the Election Commission under unconstitutional martial law and investigations proceeded under the pretext of election fraud, the Election Commission would not be able to function for a significant period due to coercion," and added, "The intent to disturb the national constitution is recognized."
Explaining the sentencing reasons for the defendants whose guilt was recognized, the court rebuked, "They turned their backs on the sacred duty of national security and national defense, and used military power, which should be used for the state and the people, for the interests of individuals and specific factions."
It further stated, "We must sound an alarm through punishments commensurate with the gravity of the case so that no one will ever plot or participate in an insurrection again."
Particularly criticizing former Commander Kim Hyun-tae, the court stated, "He had elite troops of a unit in charge of counter-terrorism operations board helicopters to enter the National Assembly and directly commanded the blockade at the scene," adding, "Following attempts to break the windows of the assembly hall, move across floors of the National Assembly, and push into the plenary chamber, he even turned off the power switch of the distribution panel, actively striving to obstruct the National Assembly's vote on the martial law lifting demand resolution."
It further reprimanded him, saying, "Despite this, from investigative agencies up to the courtroom, he showed an unrepentant attitude, claiming martial law was justified and that he merely executed lawful superior orders," and added, "He even showed an attitude of mocking the rule of law and the judicial system by distorting facts and criticizing related parties through a YouTube channel."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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